6 nabbed in foiled attempt to rescue crime gang ‘boss’

MANILA, Philippines — Six people, two of them Chinese nationals, were arrested in Parañaque City on Monday after a failed attempt to rescue a Chinese man believed to be the leader of a crime syndicate from members of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

A BJMP officer suffered a gunshot wound in the incident and was taken to the Ospital ng Parañaque for treatment.

The Philippine National Police said the suspects, who were in two vehicles — a black sedan and a Mitsubishi Expander — blocked the BJMP vehicle carrying 37-year-old Hu Yang, who had just attended a court hearing in Makati City.

He was on his way back to the BJMP facility in Barangay La Huerta in Parañaque.

The incident, according to the Philippine National Police, happened at about 12:20 p.m. on April 7 at the Parañaque Wetland Park in Barangay San Dionisio.

As the suspects opened fire on the BJMP vehicle bearing Hu, a BJMP officer onboard fired back, hitting one of the vehicles of the suspects.

The suspects in the black sedan fled while the Mitsubishi Expander crashed into a tree at the Wetland Park, the PNP said.

It added that the suspects inside the vehicle attempted to escape on foot into the nearby mangrove forest.

READ: 18 Chinese scam hub suspects arrested in Parañaque City

Hot pursuit

A police reinforcement team quickly arrived and conducted a hot pursuit operation, leading to the arrest of six suspects.

In a separate statement, the BJMP identified the six as Filipinos James Lasam, 28; Jerry Ecalde, 30; Jerome Salvador, 31; and John Paul Chua, 51; and Chinese nationals Yang Shin, 25; and Wang Hongjie, 25.

“The BJMP and PNP are conducting a thorough and coordinated investigation to determine whether the attack was an ambush or a rescue attempt,” the BJMP said.

According to the PNP, authorities seized illegal items from the suspects, including a replica grenade, a bundle of US dollar bills, a .357-caliber Magnum revolver with live ammunition, suspected illegal drugs, and assorted drug paraphernalia.

Forensic experts have processed the scene, and efforts to locate additional suspects and the firearms used in the ambush were ongoing, the PNP added.

(2025/04/09-05:45)